Insecurity: “I have to create state police” – Tinubu

GistReel

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the establishment of state police is now inevitable as part of Nigeria’s strategy to tackle rising insecurity across the country.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by prominent Katsina indigenes led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu assured that the federal government is fully committed to confronting security challenges head-on.

The president directed security agencies to reassess operations in Katsina State, which has recently witnessed a surge in banditry.

He also revealed plans to deploy advanced military equipment, surveillance technology, and strengthen the capacity of newly recruited forest guards.

“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” Tinubu said. “I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones.”

On state policing, Tinubu added: “I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”

The president recalled that in February 2024, the federal government established a committee to study the framework for state policing, a plan that has received broad support.

However, as of March, 20 states had not yet submitted their reports, according to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Tinubu also paid tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, assuring that his legacy would be preserved.

“The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,” he said.

Governor Radda thanked the president for his continuous support, noting that no request brought to Tinubu had ever been rejected. Other dignitaries, including former Governor Aminu Masari and the Wazirin of Katsina, Ibrahim Ida, commended Tinubu for honoring Buhari and investing in infrastructure across the state.

Ida, however, urged the federal government to prioritize upgrading the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and intensifying security in southern Katsina.